The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, has confirmed that three of the victims of the foiled Igarra bank armed robbery were actually members of the gang who were gunned down by the police operatives.

This is even as he also confirmed that one bank (Keystone Bank), was actually attacked by the dare-devil armed robbers, and not two as was reported by the media Thursday night.

Kokumo made this confirmations Friday while parading the bodies of the dead criminals at the State Police Headquarters, in Benin City. He said that two civilians and a Police Inspector were killed, when members of the gang staged a simultaneous attack at the nearest Police station in the area.

He added that the attack was foiled by the combined force of Policemen, who were on guard duty at the two banks in the vicinity, noting that three of the armed robbers were killed during a gun duel.

According to CP, the attack was foiled by the combined force of Policemen who were on guard duty at the two banks in the vicinity, even as he denied claims that some persons lost their lives at the bank premises

“The attack on the bank in Igarra was on Keystone Bank, and not on two banks. Actually, there are two banks in the vicinity, and adjacent to each other. One is Keystone Bank, the second is Unity Bank.

“The marauding criminals actually attacked Keystone Bank, but they met with very stiff opposition from Policemen who were on duty at Unity Bank and Keystone Bank. They were men of the Nigeria Police Mobile Force (MOPOL 60), Edo State.

“They were able to give a very good account of the stuff they are made of in a gun duel that ensued between the criminals and the policemen who were on bank guard duty. Three of the criminals were gunned down. Here you see them with their operational weapons recovered,” Kokumo said.

Commenting on the alleged attack on the Igarra police station, the CP said that criminals will always evolve different means of perpetuating their acts.

“What this gang of criminals did was to divide themselves into two halves. One of them had gone to the Police station ostensibly to prevent the Police from responding to possible distress call from the bank when the attack would have been wrecked on the bank. The second half went to Keystone Bank for the attack.

“The moment the distress call went to the Police station, there was no way the Policemen at the station could hasten down to prevent them. The ones at the Police station were the ones that wreaked the havoc, killing two civilians and one Police inspector.

“I would regard that as the minus of the operation, but on the whole, it is sad that we lost an inspector of Police to this criminal gang. Three of the armed robbers were gunned down.

“After the encounter, two of the armed robbers were actually dead. The third one was not dead as at the time the Police swooped on them; he was able to give us useful information that we are processing with a view to apprehending others who have taken to flight,” Kokumo said.

Meanwhile, the State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has commended the gallantry of the operatives of the State Police Command, who foiled the robbery attack on the bank in Igarra, in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The Governor who also expressed regret over the death of some persons while the attack lasted, prayed for the repose of their souls.

He said those that were wounded would be treated and assured that the state government is working assiduously to rid the state of criminal elements, through vigorous synergy with the various security agencies in the state.

“The attack is unfortunate and we will do all within our power to forestall such heinous incidents in the future,” Obaseki said.

According to the Governor, the bravery of men of the state police command is an evidence of the ongoing reforms and synergy between the state government and the hierarchy of the Police.

He urged Edo people and residents to rely on credible sources of information as unscrupulous individuals in the society are determined to misrepresent facts and spread outright falsehood and fear on the social and other media platforms.

Anambra State Assembly – Chief Onuorah

Defections…

“…Since the APC had allowed legislators to decamp from the PDP to join its fold in the recent past, the ruling party lacks the moral and political right to condemn the defection of the R-APC legislators. But the crass opportunism of the APC cannot legitimize the prostitution of the political system.”Femi Falana, SAN
(Lawyer & Human Rights Activist)

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